OUR THEORY OF CHANGE ON ITS FEET™
Because Justice Matters builds pathways to brighter futures for women and girls in urban communities.
LIFE-CHANGING RESULTS OF
BECAUSE JUSTICE MATTERS FAMILIES DEPARTMENT CUMULATIVE REPORT 2016-2020
ANALYSIS & REPORT BY
BECAUSE JUSTICE MATTERS (BJM) is an extension of YWAM, a nonprofit organization based in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco with a mission to: •
spark a cultural shift for women
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expand women's experiences of holistic healing and freedom
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support an integrated life that embraces spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental dimensions
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prepare generations of grassroot leaders who work authentically to produce social change
To advance this mission, BJM’s FAMILIES DEPARTMENT creates possibilities for mothers from the Tenderloin to meet, learn from, and support each other. Emphasis is placed on cultivating leaders and advocates to build community and advance needed changes.
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In 2019, the Families Department walked alongside a family who faced obstacle after obstacle. The father lost his job; the family experienced health issues; the children were facing challenges individually; the mother was working multiple jobs to make ends meet. BJM provided support and encouragement, connected them to resources, and gave them food gift cards for Christmas. The mother shared with Sylvia, our Families Department Director: "I don't know how we would have done this year had you not come around and supported us. You don't know how much you've blessed our family." Historical Snapshot. In 2016, the current Families Department Director, Sylvia, joined BJM and began opening doors with mothers from the Tenderloin. Her talents, compassion, and enthusiasm have impacted the trajectory of the department ever since. In 2017 and 2018, the Department partnered with community ESL classes for women, primarily immigrant women. Classes included space for women to share their stories and support each other. The women's eyes were opened to not being alone in experiencing prejudice and violence; commonalities were discovered among culturally different women. Sylvia developed personal relationships with many women from the Arabic community as well as with the girls in dance classes. The department sought space to meet consistently with mothers. In 2019, the scope of the Families Department expanded as Sylvia guided mothers to engage in their children's schools for the first time. "El Faro" Brave Space Group began meeting informally, where mothers could provide support and deepen connection with other moms. BJM hosted Family Fun Fest for the first time in five years. This amazingly fun event utilized 75 volunteers and provided games, activities, and food to 150 Tenderloin families. The day was a celebration of all the families who call the Tenderloin home and make our neighborhood beautiful.
One goal of Family Fun Fest was to reveal the strong community of thriving families in the Tenderloin. Parents talked, kids played and got their faces painted, and everyone celebrated all the life happening in our neighborhood. One volunteer explained, “There are families living happily here.” The event was an opportunity to see the Tenderloin through God's eyes, to see the beauty amid a neighborhood with a negative reputation. Families were seen and loved; they felt special.
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While COVID-19 had a significant impact on the department in 2020, momentum was sustained. The Families Department formally started El Faro (The Lighthouse), a Brave Space Group for mothers in May—five months earlier than planned! We also launched a weekly, virtual prayer night for families to lead and encourage one another. One mother emerged as a “mother-leader” and program advocate, leading group discussions and strategizing to increase participation. We have partnered with La Cocina, a local nonprofit working to solve problems of equity in female business ownership, to launch similar Brave Space Groups for English and Spanish-speaking mothers. Looking ahead to the fall, other mothers are being identified to lead Brave Space Groups. The Families Department is strategizing to increase the presence of our mothers in schools even in the midst of COVID19, while taking advantage of this time to educate mothers on how school systems work. New curriculum offerings for mothers are being explored on topics such as computer and financial literacy.
During the pandemic, the BJM team is walking with mothers through some of the most challenging moments of life: job loss, death of family members, positive COVID-19 tests, financial stress, and physical and mental health challenges. Mothers are reaching out to us for food, resources, support, and prayer. We support holistically as any family would because we are all one big family. A new vulnerability in relationships is translating into beautiful unity and connection.
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Our Community Partners Attest
“While we are doing all we can to support La Cocina entrepreneurs and their businesses during this difficult time, we greatly appreciate the space that BJM creates and holds for La Cocina entrepreneurs to connect not only as business owners but also as mothers and individuals navigating this new reality." – Leticia Landa, Deputy Director of La Cocina
“It’s rare for us to work with an organization that is so well prepared and organized.” – San Francisco Parks and Recreation
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Theory of Change. The results in this report are based on data collected using SEED Impact’s Theory of Change on Its Feet™. This framework guides our visioning, goal-setting, and ongoing assessment of results for each BJM department and the organization as whole. Our Families Department team began by clarifying the vision we hold for mothers and community partners. We then translated the vision to define measurable, progressive results for each outcome target. Achieving our short and mediumterm results greatly increases the likelihood that long-range, life-changing outcomes can be attained. This is the outcome performance model we use:
Upon conducting data analysis for this report, SEED Impact attests that the Families Department's: •
goals are tied to a larger “theory of change” and vision for long-term social impact
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staff are consistently tracking outcomes that make a difference
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community building is advancing and establishing firmer footing, year-to-year
Families Department Outcome Targets: 1.
Mothers Attending Brave Space Group
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Community Resources
“As the Families Department Director, I have been able to use SEED Impact’s Theory of Change tool to look back over the years, project outcomes and challenges, and strategize about new offerings and a greater impact. It has been essential in charting our growth.” — Sylvia, Families Department Director
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1. MOTHERS ATTENDING BRAVE SPACE GROUP THEORY OF CHANGE
Our staff speak the language and know the culture of the mothers we serve. We have strengths in providing one-on-one, customized support, and honoring individuals’ roles, commitment, and knowledge. Through Brave Space Groups, we aim to foster connections between mothers so that, in turn, they can network in support of each other.
2020 OUTCOME PERFORMANCE • 6 mothers attended bi-weekly group meetings • 2 assisted in classes and met consistently with a coach • 4 recruiting others, leading and taking ownership 86 percent increase in total impact, July 2019 to July 2020
MOTHERS IN BRAVE SPACE GROUP IMPACTED BY FAMILIES DEPARTMENT 2019-2020
"Ariella has been to every meeting. She has helped with decisions, offered advice on questions impacting Tenderloin families, provided resources for moms, and helped with recruitment. With the full support of her husband, she consistently attends prayer meetings with staff. What we had hoped might happen over a year or more has happened in two months.”
CUMULATIVE OUTCOMES: 5 Love-to-See (19%) Recruiting others, leading and taking ownership of curriculum 3 Like-to-See (12%) Assisted in classes and met consistently with a coach 18 Expect-to-See (69%) Attended bi-weekly group meetings
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2. COMMUNITY RESOURCES THEORY OF CHANGE
The Families Department is skilled at building relationships with community partners and articulating what we offer. We have a heart to collaborate and build connections. We honor the commitment of our partners and recognize people as experts and leaders in the community. We facilitate spaces for community members from the Tenderloin to step into leadership positions.
2020 OUTCOME PERFORMANCE • 3 shared assets and developed new family programming • 4 developing models and building collective impact 29 percent increase in total impact, July 2019 to July 2020
COMMUNITY RESOURCES IMPACTED BY FAMILIES DEPARTMENT 2016-2020 CUMULATIVE OUTCOMES: 17 Love-to-See (55%) Developing models and building collective impact 3 Like-to-See (10%) Shared assets and developed new family programming 11 Expect-to-See (35%) New partnerships developed to support families
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Contact SEED Impact for more information on our Theory of Change on Its Feet™ FOLLOW US
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